I deserve a medal

Today was the day I became a true Minnesotan.

(drumroll please)

I shoveled my driveway.

Let me say that again.

I shoveled my driveway.

I lived in Utah for 5 years

Cleveland for 4 years

This is my second winter in Minnesota

I've been married for almost 8 years

I have never shoveled snow from my driveway.

I have never shoveled snow. period.

Today, school was cancelled due to the snowstorm that's been hitting us hard since yesterday and will continue throughout the day.

Hence my plans to go to the grocery store this morning were also cancelled. There are just some things I don't do with three kids.

BUT...we were out of diet coke. Kwik Trip is just down the street. And I can do Kwik Trip with three kids, snowstorm or not.

Then I looked out my window. At least 4 inches of fresh snow on the driveway that Paul shoveled just last night? No problem, I can get through that in my mininvan. The bank of snow at the bottom of the driveway (caused by the snowplows) as high as my waist? Problem. Even if I got out I knew there would be no getting back in. Our driveway is steep.

I thought about an entire day and night inside, alone (Paul is on-call) with all three of my kids.

I thought about it for o.03 seconds.

And at 7:30am I put the baby in the crib, geared up, and got to work.

Besides the fact that I was dripping sweat and my back and and arms will be so sore tomorrow I'm not sure I'll be able to hold my baby...it was kind of nice. Beautiful, peaceful, quiet. I almost didn't mind it. (Ssshhhhh, don't tell my husband.)

And so today I am a true Minnesotan.

I take that back - true Minnesotans have snow blowers.

Today, I am a mother of three, with a husband who works a lot, on a tight budget (and maybe a coke addiction).

And I shoveled my driveway.

The whole dang thing.

And I am currently enjoying a nice, big, cold Diet Coke : )

p.s. I had to page Paul at work to share with him my big accomplishment. He was busy. All I said was, "I shoveled the driveway." All he said was, "No Way" laughing, and then he had to go. He called back a bit later when he had a few minutes to spare. I answered the phone and heard Paul say, "So tell me."